Buzzard Droppings October 2007

(President’s Message continued from page 1)

ever tasted. The pop and water was chilled to about 36 degrees. Everything that surrounded the food preparation and serving for our combat event was loaded into my truck. I headed for the field about 8:00 AM. No rain in Duvall, so we were all set, right?? 

Well, halfway there I was met by a few sprinkles. As I turned onto 168th I was met by a heavy drizzle. The Weather Channel said the rain would hold off till around 6:00 PM. I guess when you have as much sunshine as we had in August and most of September, you tend of forget, or take it for granted, that this sort thing could happen on the day of our last Combat for the season. If you were at the club meeting on Tuesday, September 11  we did talk about a possible rain date.  About 8:30 am everyone started showing up and waiting to see what would happen, although things looked bleak.

Scott and Norm showed up about 8:45 am and Scott officially called off the combat event. So everyone ended up turning around and driving home, but not before I became a corn salesman. None of the corn went to waste and the rest I froze along with the barbecued meat. So guys we moved the combat event to Saturday September 22, lock, stock and barrel.

I want to respond and clarify an article that appeared under new business in our August newsletter and old business of our September newsletter. The article talks about advanced training  stunts, IMAC type flying, maneuvers, etc. A few of the members called me, emailed me, and talked to me about what does advanced training specifically mean. At our last meeting Gerald Gunnells asked me if our Club was going to start supporting pattern flying as that was the reason he quit the club at Cascade. I told him no, that the intent of our program is to help club members who have soloed and want to take their next step. I know when Ron Swift suggested this program, he was thinking of an optional service that members could attend if they wanted.  He was thinking it would help him personally become a better flyer, too!

It seems to me we don't have a next step for those who want to improve their building and flying skills . Well, I'll point the finger at

me and tell you about my experience. After I solo-ed and built up some time flying, I got a little bored with my trainer . So I asked my instructor what my next plane should be. He and other members recommended The Tower Kaos 40 or the Great Planes Supersporter 40 would be good choices. So I called Tower Hobbies and in short time my Supersporter arrived. I put my OS 46 in it and off I flew. I built up some time in it, had a lot of fun with it, and cracked up a couple times. By this time I thought I had the bull by the horns, and I ordered one of Great Planes Dazzlers. This airplane was a lot of fun, but way above my ability. Out of the ten or so flights I made with it, I think I made only one successful landing.  All the rest of my landings were very short of the field or landed on runway 2 about where the Ron Beba’s Model Magnet is hidden.

This experience kind of blew my confidence, and for the next few months of flying, I struggled and had a lot of problems with my landings. So I asked my instructor what my problem was and he said I needed to take a step backwards and get an airplane that would allow me to build my confidence back up. So I bought the KMPS' Taylor Craft. I flew this plane for a whole year. It allowed me to built my confidence back up. At the end of one year of flying that plane, I was so bored with it I even hated the sight of it. But, there wasn't anything I couldn't do with it. Spins, rolls, some minor tail slides, loop, snap rolls, spot landing (etc). That year I burned up 8 gallons of fuel, but when I look back on that year it was the best year I spent flying. That airplane taught me a lot and allowed me to take the next step into high performance airplanes. I have seen where one of our members soloed and built up some time and confidence. He thought he had the bull by the horns and bought a super high performance model. He crashed it, bought another one and crashed it, too.  And so on and so on. In trying to help this member, I told him about my experience. He promptly told me that I or any member would not tell him what he could fly. What I am trying to say here guys, and please forgive me if I have pointed a finger at any one person, is that after a member solos, it is up to the member what his next step will be and what airplane he should buy.

Some members have asked the question, "At what point does an instructor pass his student on

(Continued on page 3)